Thyroid volume and function in patients with acromegaly living in iodine deficient areas

The aim of our study was to evaluate the size and function of the thyroid in patients with acromegaly. In 39 patients concentrations of HGH, PRL, TSH, T3 and T4 were measured and the thyroid volume was calculated with the using of ultrasound examination. The control group comprised 5 patients with acromegaly in a stage of remission and 98 controls. We concluded that the size of the goiter in patients with acromegaly depends on serum concentration of HGH, but it does not depend on the concentration of TSH, T3, T4 and PRL. Goiter is present in 87% of patients with acromegaly, 46% of them are nodular goiters. The thyroid function in acromegaly is normal.